Tracking frequent flyer points can be a tiresome and aggravating process. And not knowing a point total could lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. With so many ways to earn points, rotating special promotions, partner awards, and bonus points available, keeping track of points might seem almost impossible. If that's the case, here are ten ways to track your to keep them up to date and stay aware of accumulating totals.
Set a Date
There are plenty of tools and gadgets out there to stay appraised of frequent flyer point totals, but the overall responsibility lies with the cardholder. If nothing else works, set a date upon which to check the points balance, perhaps the first or last of each month for ease of remembering.
Newsletters
Frequent flyers may be able to sign up for an informative newsletter through a particular frequent flier program. This newsletter could help to stay appraised not only of a frequent flyer's points status but of promotions, specials, and changes to the points program.
Billing
One way to track points may be by way of the card bill. While a bill may or may not break down frequent flyer points by where or how they were incurred, it might help the cardholder to stay updated on his point total.
Emails
By signing up for email notifications through a frequent flier program, a frequent flyer can receive messages that are relevant to that particular program as well as point updates.
Google Gadget
If provided by the program, it may be convenient to track point totals by way of a Google Gadget. Such a gadget could make it quick and easy to view point balances, see points earned in partner categories, and get news and offers.
Phone
Utilizing internet access through a phone this could be another suitable and effective method of keeping an eye on your points.
Online Account
Receiving newsletters or emails may not be preferred to all, and some may not want to take the time or have the knowledge needed to set up a gadget. If this is the case, checking points total by way of logging into an online account could be an efficient method of getting the information needed.
Customer Service Representative
Amazingly enough, not everyone has access to the internet or may not have access to it when it's really needed. If this is the case, a frequent flyer could call a customer service representative of the associated program to determine his or her point total.
Set Goals
The problem for some cardholders is actually remembering to check their point total. If they are not receiving regular updates by way of a newsletter or email, it may just not be something they remember to do. These people may consider tracking their points by setting goals. This could make it more likely they will remember a planned holiday or a purchase they would like to make with their points, thereby jogging their memory to track their totals.
The Old Fashioned Way
If all else fails, keeping receipts or jotting down purchases when they are made is another way, albeit maybe not the most efficient, to track frequent flyer points.